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The bottom line
A flexible screening menu with clear per-check prices, but timing and support are the cautions.
Certn is a capable background-screening option for employers hiring across borders: its homepage says it covers 195 countries, offers ATS and HRIS connections and a RESTful API, and reports that many checks finish in minutes. Small and midsize teams pay per check, with no setup fees or minimums listed. The lowest published price is CAD $4.99 for OneID; a Basic Canadian criminal check costs $24.99, and Enterprise pricing is custom and unpublished.
Don’t treat “minutes” as a promise for every check. The pricing page lists 4–72 hours for Canadian criminal checks, while Reddit users describe international or multi-part checks taking around two weeks or longer, with some reporting slow updates. Certn suits teams that want a broad screening menu without a subscription commitment, but we’d confirm expected turnaround and any pass-through fees before relying on it for a tight hiring deadline.
Good fit if
- Teams screening candidates across countries
- Small teams avoiding monthly minimums
- Employers needing API or HRIS connections
Skip it if
- Hiring with a hard start-date deadline
- Teams needing published enterprise rates
- Buyers wanting predictable all-in check costs
ScoresHow it rates
What works
- Homepage says screening covers 195 countries
- Per-check model has no setup fees or minimums listed
- Menu includes criminal, identity, credit and verification checks
- ATS and HRIS connections are available
- RESTful API can embed checks in onboarding
What doesn't
- Enterprise pricing is custom and not published
- Some checks may incur pass-through fees
- Canadian criminal checks are listed at $24.99 or $29.99
- Several Reddit users report checks taking weeks
- Reddit commenters report slow or unhelpful status updates
01What Certn actually does
Certn is a background-screening platform for employers and individuals. Its homepage says it supports checks in 195 countries and that many checks are completed in minutes, but turnaround depends on the check: some listed services are instant, while others take days or need manual follow-up.
For small and midsize businesses, Certn lists per-check pricing with no setup fees or minimums. Employers can combine criminal-record searches with identity, credit, social media, employment, education, reference and driver-record checks. Certn also says it connects with applicant tracking and HR information systems and offers a RESTful API for adding checks to onboarding flows.
Individuals can request and share a verified Canadian criminal record check online. The pricing page lists Canadian criminal checks from $24.99 per check; the $4.99 starting price applies to OneID identity verification, not a criminal-record search.
02Where Certn is strong
The main advantage is a menu of checks that can be bought individually instead of a published monthly subscription. That gives smaller teams a way to order the screening they need without a stated setup fee or minimum commitment. The pricing page lists prices in CAD per check, so buyers can see specific costs before contacting sales for routine services.
- OneID is $4.99 per check and listed as instant. It compares a selfie with an ID and scans the ID’s machine-readable zone.
- A Basic Canadian Criminal Record Check is $24.99, with a listed turnaround of 4–72 hours. The $29.99 Enhanced check adds CPIC and PIP searches.
- The $39.99 Quebec SOQUIJ check covers penal court records and is listed at one day.
- Credit reports are $12.99 and listed as instant; employment reports omit credit scores.
Certn also presents a path beyond one-off orders: ATS and HRIS connections, a RESTful API, and screening across 195 countries, according to its product information. Larger programs can request bundled packages and tailored solutions, though enterprise pricing is custom and not published.
03Where it falls short
Certn’s speed claim needs qualification. The homepage says many checks finish in minutes, but its own pricing page lists criminal checks at 4–72 hours, and employment, education and credential verification are initiated by the team within one business day. Those checks may also incur pass-through fees. Pricing is per check; monthly and annual billing are not published, and enterprise pricing is custom.
Coverage is not uniform across products. The Public Records Check is $9.99, takes under an hour according to the pricing page, and is available for Canada only—not US candidates. Driver’s abstracts cover Canada or the US, but Alberta is unavailable and additional state or access fees may apply. Some verification results can also be partial: in-progress credentials may only be partially verified.
User reports add a service caveat, not a guaranteed turnaround. In Reddit threads, people described international checks taking 9–12 days, and others reported waits of around three weeks or nearly a month, with slow updates or follow-up. Those are anecdotes, but they matter when a job offer has a deadline.
04Certn pricing: what you'll actually pay
Certn lists prices in CAD per check, not as a monthly or annual subscription. The lowest listed price is $4.99 for OneID identity verification—not a criminal record check. A Basic Canadian Criminal Record Check costs $24.99; Enhanced is $29.99, a $5 step up for CPIC and PIP searches. The Quebec SOQUIJ check is $39.99, while Social Media Checks cost $59.99. Other examples: Credit Report $12.99, Employment or Education Verification $29.99 each, and Reference Checks $39.99.
For small and midsize teams, Certn says there are no setup fees or minimums, so you can pay per check. That helps avoid a fixed subscription, but it does not make every check’s total cost predictable: pass-through fees may apply to some checks, and US motor vehicle records may carry an additional state fee. Monthly and annual billing are not published. Enterprise pricing is custom and not published, so larger buyers will need a quote.
05Switching to (or from) Certn
Certn says it connects with ATS and HRIS systems and offers a RESTful API for embedding checks in onboarding flows. If you are switching, confirm that your specific systems and workflows are supported before moving candidates over. The available published material does not specify migration services, implementation time, data-export options, or how long reports remain accessible, so we would get those terms in writing before committing. Per-check pricing and no minimums may make it easier to start small, but they do not answer what happens to historical records if you leave.
We do not have Reddit posts or comments in the published material, so we cannot substantiate a pattern of why Certn customers leave. Ask Certn about exporting candidate and report data, integration fees, and any access or pass-through charges. If your hiring date is fixed, confirm turnaround for the exact checks you need: listed timings vary, and some verification checks are initiated within one business day.
From the threadsWhat users say
Reddit reports suggest Certn timing varies: some users described waits of about 9–12 days, while others reported nearly a month. Complaints focus on slow updates and having to chase; one Mercor thread said onboarding could continue before the check finished, though that may depend on the employer.
Took the bones of a month in the end. Had to chase them up about stuff as it felt like nobody was doing anything
Nobody responds with updates, they take several days to acknowledge receipt of files, they lose documents, follow up questions take serveral days, there is no urgency from them at all
Took about 12 days in Thailand 🇹🇭
You are able to proceed even before the background check completes!!
Questions people ask
How long does Certn take?
It depends on the check and location. Certn’s homepage says many checks are completed in minutes, and its listed Canadian criminal record checks take 4–72 hours. Reddit users report longer waits for broader or international screening, including about 9–12 days and, in one case, nearly a month. Treat the estimate for your specific check as more useful than a general promise.
Can I continue onboarding while my Certn check is pending?
One Reddit thread about Mercor says applicants could continue onboarding before the background check was complete. That does not establish a general Certn policy: whether you can start work or finish onboarding depends on the hiring company’s process. Ask your recruiter or employer what applies to your offer rather than assuming the pending check will not affect your start date.
How do I see a copy of my Certn background check?
The published product details do not publish instructions for viewing or downloading a completed report. Contact the employer or organization that requested the check and ask how they provide candidate access. If they cannot help, contact Certn through its official support channel and ask about access to your report and any steps needed to verify your identity.
How much does Certn cost?
The listed prices are in CAD per check, with no monthly or annual billing published. Examples include OneID at $4.99, a Basic Canadian Criminal Record Check at $24.99, an Enhanced check at $29.99, and social media screening at $59.99. Enterprise pricing is custom and not published; some checks may also have pass-through fees.
What checks and countries does Certn support?
Certn says it supports background checks in 195 countries and offers built-in global compliance. Its listed screening options include criminal record, employment, education, credential, reference, credit, social media and driving-record checks. Individuals can also request and share a verified Canadian criminal record check online. Availability and scope depend on the check and location.